How can visualization tools improve training in clinical genomics?
I’ve been involved in clinical genomics education for the past few years, and one challenge that never goes away is helping students and clinicians truly grasp the complexity of genomic data. Reading variant reports is one thing — but understanding the structure of genes, transcripts, and how variants fit within regulatory elements is something else entirely. That’s why I’ve started incorporating interactive tools like CompassBioInfo into my training sessions. These platforms allow users to visualize the genomic context of variants in a much more intuitive way than static slides or screenshots ever could. For many of my trainees, seeing how a non-coding variant aligns with conserved regions or regulatory elements has been a turning point in how they think about interpretation. I believe that making this type of visual interactivity a core part of training can dramatically shorten the learning curve for newcomers in the field.
Completely agree — bridging the gap between data and understanding is one of the biggest educational challenges in genomics. I’ve noticed that even experienced lab staff sometimes struggle with abstract variant reports until they see the location mapped out visually. It turns abstract VCF entries into stories: “Here’s a variant, here’s the exon it disrupts, here’s how conserved it is, and here’s why we care.” The ability to instantly toggle between genes, transcripts, regulatory layers, and cross-species conservation in tools like CompassBioInfo brings a whole new level of engagement. For teaching purposes, it’s incredibly valuable — not just for variant interpretation, but also for introducing core genomic concepts. I’ve started recommending it to every new trainee, especially those preparing for clinical board exams or variant review panels. It turns complexity into clarity.